The Barbed Wire - March 12, 2021

American Rescue Plan Signed into Law by President Biden

After months of deliberation and the construction of President Biden’s $1.9 billion COVID-19 relief proposal, the American Rescue Plan, the Congress sent a final package for his signature on Thursday.  The President promptly signed the bill into law.  The near 700 page bill contains funding for a wide number of items – unemployment assistance, direct payment of monies to qualified residents, and monies for economic development to name just a few.
 
For RCRC, perhaps the most important aspect of the American Rescue Plan is the component that provides state and local financial assistance.  There were some noteworthy last-minute changes to the state and local funding as it secured passage in the U.S. Senate. Most notably, there will be $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid for every county, parish, and borough.  A county’s allocation will be distributed in two tranches with states and localities receiving 50 percent of the funds up front (most likely to arrive into county coffers in mid-to-late May) and the remaining amount made available 12 months later.  Localities with a high proportion of unemployed individuals could be eligible to receive their first and second allotments simultaneously.  This eligibility for a state to receive its second tranche of funding based on unemployment will come at the discretion of U.S. Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen.  Click here to download the County Allocation Projections Spreadsheet published by our county partners at NACo.

In addition, but associated with state and local assistance, is a $10 billion fund for state broadband infrastructure projects.  It is unclear how these monies will be fully allocated; however, each state will receive a minimum of $100 million with the remaining balance allocated under a complex formula.
 
Also, the relief package contains a new $2 billion annual public lands program.  This program was championed by Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) for “communities and tribal governments that have historically been harmed by federal government policies.”  The new program will include $1.5 billion for eligible counties and $500 million for tribes over the next two years and, “takes into account economic conditions of each eligible revenue sharing county, using measurements of poverty rates, household income, land values, and unemployment rates as well as other economic indicators, over the 20-year period ending with September 30, 2021.”  Senator Wyden will work with Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and counties to set up the new program to make payments based on economic conditions in each county.  Notably for RCRC, these eligible revenue share counties include public land counties that receive Payments in Lieu of‐Taxes and Secure Rural Schools payments, with $750 million allotted each year for federal Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023.
 
The American Rescue Plan will also provide California with:

• Approximately $15 billion to help California’s K-12 schools reopen safely and comply with CDC guidelines.
• $5 billion to California colleges and universities, half of which must go to emergency financial aid to students.
• $3.8 billion to stabilize California’s childcare sector and make child care more affordable for families.
• $4.6 billion to ensure access to safe, reliable transit services in California.

Bill of the Week: SB 264 (Min) – Firearms: State and County Property

RCRC officially opposes Senate Bill 264, authored by Senator Dave Min (D–Irvine), which prohibits the sale of firearms and/or firearms components on any state- and county-owned property.  SB 264 would effectively end the sale of firearms and firearm components on a county fairground property.  

California’s fairgrounds play a major role in the economies of the communities/counties where they are located.  Beyond the annual “fair,” fairgrounds host hundreds of events year-round, including gun shows.  By disallowing fairgrounds from holding legal gun shows, SB 264 would erode the revenue stream that would be derived from these premises.  RCRC also believes SB 264 creates winners and losers in the retail firearms industry, and the bill would drive firearm consumers to other retailers, including those that operate out-of-state.  

It should be noted that while RCRC generally does not engage on legislation dealing with firearms, our involvement on this particular bill is warranted.  RCRC’s letter of opposition can be accessed here.  For more information, contact Paul A. Smith, RCRC Senior Vice President Governmental Affairs,at (916) 447-4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.

ICYMI: Hometown California Episode 24 - What Is Up with the Recall Election of Governor Newsom?

On the latest episode of Hometown California, Jeremy White, co-writer of Politico's California Playbook, returns to share his insights about the effort to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. Our host, Paul A. Smith, RCRC Vice President for Government Affairs, dives in to find out how a gubernatorial recall—an idea that was once seen as outlying political chatter — has become a real and present threat to Governor Newsom’s political future.

• Is this recall going to happen?
• What are the origins of the recall effort and what makes this effort feel real?
• Where is the money coming from?
• Does the Governor have a strategy for overcoming this?
• What are the political implications if the recall effort is successful?
• Is this indicative of a national trend, or is this unique to California?

Listen now as Jeremy shares his insights and predictions about the recall effort.

Board of Forestry Update and Special Meeting Notice

On Thursday, the Board of Forestry (BOF) noticed a special meeting to discuss and possibly approve its Fire Safe Regulations proposal for submission to the Office of Administrative Law.  Once the proposed rulemaking is published in the Regulatory Notice Register, the formal 45-day public comment period will begin.  It is anticipated that a revised draft of the proposal will be released prior to the BOF meeting.

The current proposal, released February 8th, continues to include language that preludes all development on roads that fail to meet specified standards.  These “no-build” areas apply to the construction of Accessory Dwelling units and wildfire rebuilds.

The State Fire Safe regulations set forth basic wildfire protection standards for development in the State Responsibility Area and, beginning July 1, 2021, the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones of the Local Responsibility Area.  RCRC, along with the California State Association of Counties and the Urban Counties of California, submitted comments to the BOF on the revised proposal, outlining the extremely detrimental impacts the new regulations will have in all areas of that state, but particularly in rural areas.

For updates from the BOF on the Fire Safe Regulations and other activities of the BOF Resource Protection Committee, subscribe to email updates here.   And, for more information, please contact Tracy Rhine.

USDA Invests $285 Million to Improve National Forest Infrastructure

On Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $285 million to help the Forest Service address critical deferred maintenance and improve transportation and recreation infrastructure on national forests and grasslands.  This investment was made possible by the newly created National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), established in 2020 by the Great American Outdoors Act.  These funds will allow the Forest Service to implement more than 500 infrastructure improvement projects essential to the continued use and enjoyment of national forests and grasslands.  A total of 556 LRF projects have been authorized by Congress to begin implementation in FY21, including 95 for California.  Click here for a full list of projects.

Farm Workforce Modernization Act

On Tuesday, Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel) announced the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act for the 117th Congress.  This legislation would provide an earned pathway to legalization and potential for citizenship for those who have and will continue to work in agriculture and improve the H-2A visa guestworker program with streamlined and modern procedures.  The legislation is co-sponsored by California Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Jim Costa (D-Fresno), Doug La Malfa (R-Richvale), and Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and will provide “stability, predictability, and fairness to our country’s agriculture communities.”

RCRC and CSAC Redistricting Webinar Series: Part 1 Presentation Available for Viewing and Save the Date for Part 2, April 16th

In case you missed Part 1 of the Redistricting Webinar Series, brought to you by RCRC and CSAC, the presentation is available for viewing here. Part One focused on the legal requirements and technical aspects of redistricting. Be sure to save the date, April 16th, for Part 2 which will be a conversation on best practices and what you can expect the redistricting process to look like on the ground. If you have any questions please reach out to Dorothy Poole (RCRC) or Ada Waelder (CSAC).

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

CAL FIRE to Host Online Workshops: Fire Prevention and Forest Health Grants

CAL FIRE will host online workshops regarding fire prevention and forest health grants.Due to COVID-19 restrictions, participation will be limited to online workshops via Microsoft Teams. NO registration is necessary.
  
Fire Prevention

• March 18, 2021, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Microsoft Teams meeting | Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)  +1 650-564-3271,,747661928# 
Phone Conference ID: 747 661 928#
 

• March 25, 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PDT

Microsoft Teams meeting | Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only) +1 650-564-3271,,710970321#
Phone Conference ID: 710 970 321#
 

Visit the Fire Prevention Grants webpage for Grants Guidelines & a recording of the workshop

Forest Health, Forest Legacy & Research

• April 7, 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM PDT

Microsoft Teams meeting | Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only) +1 650-564-3271,,969798025#
Phone Conference ID: 969 798 025#

Visit the Forest Health Grants webpage for Grants Guidelines & a recording of the workshop

California Air Resources Board to Examine Changes to Small Off-Road Engine Regulations

On March 24th, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold a virtual workshop (from 10am to Noon) to discuss potential changes to the Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) Regulations, such as tighter emission standards and transition to zero-emission equipment. SORE—19 kilowatts or less—are often used in lawn and garden equipment, industrial equipment and specialty vehicles. For more information on SORE, including meeting details, see here. CARB will answer questions at this workshop and accept written public comments on the SORE Workshop no later than April 8, 2021.

California Air Resources Board Offers Webinars on Regulatory Compliance Training

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is offering a variety of training webinars for regulatory compliance on issues affecting public fleets such as Off-Road Regulations, Truck and Bus Rules, and Diesel Truck Rules. 

The In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation (Off-Road Regulation) requires fleet owners to report to CARB, label their off-road vehicles, and reduce emissions from older equipment.  This course provides detailed information to help fleet owners understand and comply with the Off-Road Regulation: 

Date:               March 25, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

Date:               May 13, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

The CARB Diesel Truck Rules course will discuss compliance options and reporting requirements for 2021 and beyond for those that own, operate or dispatch heavy-duty diesel trucks in California. If your vehicles are not compliant, you need to know what the current and future requirements are. If your vehicles are compliant, you may need to report to remain compliant. 

Date:               April 29, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

CARB’s Air Regulatory Overview for Public Agencies course provides training to for public agency employees and fleet managers about the basic regulatory requirements for heavy-duty diesel vehicles and provide awareness on which elements of the regulations these agencies may be accountable for, such as idling limitations; On-Road Public Fleet Regulation; In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation; Periodic Smoke Inspection Program; & Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP). 

Date:               April 1, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

The Compliance Overview: Truck & Bus Rule, Off-Road Regulation, and Portable Equipment course includes the following topics:

Truck and Bus Regulation:

• Regulation Applicability
• Engine Model Year Schedule
• Exemptions & Extensions
• How to Report for Regulation Flexibilities
• Broker and Dispatcher Requirements
• DMV Registration

Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP):

• Regulation Applicability
• Program Updates

Advanced Clean Truck (ACT):

• Manufacturers ZEV Sales Requirements
• One-Time Reporting
• Future ZEV Rules

In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation:

• Regulation Applicability
• Requirements Currently in Effect
• Future Compliance Deadlines

Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) & Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM):

• PERP Eligibility
• Program Requirements
• ATCM Program & Updates
• Enforcement & Inspections

Date:               April 22, 2021
Time:               1:00 p.m.
Webinar:         Register

California Public Utilities Commission to Hold Workshop on Execution of 2020 PSPS Events

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold an upcoming public workshop with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and PacifiCorp on the execution of their 2020 Public Safety Power Shut-off (PSPS) events; Southern California Edison will participate in the latter half of the workshop. This workshop will include two roundtable discussions covering local government, tribes, and the Access and Functional Needs community. More information, including a full agenda, will be made available here. 

WHEN: Monday, March 29, 2021 from 9am to 5pm
WHERE: Online viewing only. Webcast available here.
HOW: To participate and make public comments, the call-in number is 1-800-857-1917, passcode is 5180519.

CWDA Seeks Director of Legisiation

CWDA is seeking a Director of Legislation. The Director of Legislation is responsible for leading CWDA’s state legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of the 58 county human services agencies. For the full position description and application information see here. Apply by Friday, March 19, 2021 for consideration.

Save the Date for Forest Stewardship Workshop

The University of California Cooperative Extension has announced upcoming training opportunities to help landowners develop sustainable plans to improve and protect their forest lands. Online workshops will be offered weekly from March 22, 2021 through May 27, 2021, with an in-person session scheduled in Humboldt County on Saturday, April 24, 2021. For more information, see here.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ASSISTANCE

Resource pages, deadline extensions, and available programs to assist communities impacted by COVID-19.

DWR Provides Tips for Holding Online Meetings to Address Groundwater Sustainability Plans

As Groundwater Sustainability Plans are being developed to meet the January 2022 deadline, several counties (and water agencies) have asked for advice for engaging stakeholders and interested parties through online resources.  In response to community interest, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Office has put together examples, tips, and tactics to consider. The DWR tips are available here.

Coronavirus Relief Available from the Small Business Administration

The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering several coronavirus relief options to help alleviate the financial hardships resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19). The programs have received an overwhelming number of applications from businesses, so be sure to check the SBA website for the latest updates on the status of these programs.

• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. After initial funding was quickly depleted, the program received an infusion of an additional $310 billion, allowing the SBA to resume the program on April 27, 2020. Be sure to check the SBA website for the most recent information on the application process and availability of funds.
• The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance provides up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.
• SBA Express Bridge Loans can be used to bridge the gap for businesses while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan; small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
• SBA Debt Relief provides a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are interested in programs for other disasters, the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance portal is available here.

Economic Development Resources for Communities and Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus

The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) has assembled resources for communities and business impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The page will be continually evolving as new resources become available. To go directly to the CALED resources, click here.

Use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for Infectious Disease Response

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be used for a range of eligible activities that prevent and respond to the spread of infectious diseases such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Check out the Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response for guidance and additional information.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) County Resource Page Available

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), RCRC’s local government partner, continues to provide excellent up-to-date state and federal information to counties on this ever-changing pandemic event.  We encourage visiting CSAC’s COVID-19 resource page, which contains vital links to all CSAC COVID-19 advocacy letters and resources.  CSAC’s staff continues to work around the clock to update activities so that all of California’s counties can remain properly informed.

LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATE

Information related to the current status of legislation and regulations impacting California’s rural counties.

Assembly Bill 1 (C. Garcia): Hazardous Waste: Assembly Bill 1 establishes several new governance, policy, and fiscal reforms to improve the Department of Toxic Substances Control, including significantly increasing several fees and repealing several important fee exemptions. Status: AB 1 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 318 (Levine): Hazardous waste: Assembly Bill 318 excludes from classification as hazardous waste green waste that has not been contaminated by a hazardous or toxic chemical during production, harvest, or processing.  Requires those green wastes to be disposed in a permitted solid or hazardous waste landfill or composting operation.  Status:  AB 318 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status:  Pending

Assembly Bill 322 (Salas): Energy: Electric Program Investment Charge program: Requires the Energy Commission to allocate at least 20% of all funds appropriated for the Electric Program Investment Charge program (roughly $25 million annually) to bioenergy projects for biomass conversion. Status: AB 322 is awaiting consideration in the Assembly Utilities and Energy and Natural Resources Committee.  RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 332 (ESTM): Hazardous waste: treated wood waste: Seeks to reestablish a statutory pathway for the alternative management and disposal of treated wood waste in a landfill.  Status:  AB 332 is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.  RCRC Status:  Support

Assembly Bill 732 (Quirk) Increases the Environmental Fee paid by businesses with 50 or more employees to fund oversight of hazardous waste management and disposal and to remediate orphan and legacy contaminated properties. Status: AB is awaiting consideration by the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 819 (Levine) Requires lead agencies and project applicants to post California Environmental Quality Act notices and documents on their internet websites and to submit CEQA documents to the State Clearinghouse in electronic form.  Status: AB 819 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 843 (Aguiar-Curry) Allows Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to access the CPUC BioMAT program that provides funding for renewable bioenergy electricity projects, including biomass and biogas. Status: AB 843 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 881 (Gonzalez) Repeals the ability for local governments to claim diversion credit for most types of plastic waste that are exported for recycling. Status: AB 881 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1078 (Patterson) Exempts residential buildings damaged or destroyed in a disaster during the 2020 calendar year from having to install solar energy systems under the California Energy Commission’s recently adopted building requirements.  Status: AB 1078 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1086 (Aguiar-Curry) Requires the state to prepare an implementation strategy to achieve the state’s organic waste, climate change, and air quality mandates, goals, and targets.  Status: AB 1086 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending.

Assembly Bill 1154 (Patterson) Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act egress route projects undertaken by a public agency and that are recommended by the Board of Forestry to improve fire safety of an existing subdivision.  Status: AB 1154 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1201 (Ting) Authorizes CalRecycle to adopt regulations for plastic product labeling to ensure that plastic products labeled as compostable or home compostable are clearly distinguishable from non-compostable products.  Prohibits the sale of a plastic product labeled as compostable, home compostable, or soil biodegradable unless the product meets specified standards.  Status: AB 1201 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1276 (Carrillo) Prohibits food facilities and platforms from providing single-use food accessories to consumers unless requested or necessary to protect public health and safety or safe delivery.  Status: AB 1276 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1277 (Rubio) Expedites the litigation timeline for challenges to student housing projects brought under the California Environmental Quality Act.  Status: AB 1277 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources and Judicial Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1311 (Wood) Will seek to made modest changes to the Beverage Container Recycling Act to increase consumer access to redemption opportunities. Status: AB 1311 awaits consideration from the Assembly Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1350 (Patterson) Until 1/1/2025, exempts businesses with 50-100 employees from having to pay the Environmental Fee, which funds oversight of hazardous waste management and disposal and to remediate orphan and legacy contaminated properties. Status: AB 1350 awaits consideration from the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 30 (Cortese): Building Decarbonization: Prohibits state agencies from designing or constructing a state facility that is connected to the natural gas grid and prohibits state agencies from funding projects for the construction of residential and nonresidential buildings that are connected to the natural gas grid. Status: Senate Bill 30 awaits consideration by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 38 (Wieckowski): Beverage Containers: Replaces the existing Beverage Container Recycling Program (Bottle Bill) with a new recycling program administered by beverage container manufacturers and increases the CRV from $0.05 to $0.10 per container if the state fails to achieve specified recycling rates. Status: SB 38 awaits consideration by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 52 (Dodd): State of Emergency: Power Outages. Senate Bill 52 clarifies that deenergization events (also known as PSPS events) qualify as events for which a state of emergency or local emergency can be declared under the California Emergency Services Act. Status: SB 52 awaits consideration in the Senate Appropriations Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 99 (Dodd): Community Energy Resilience Act of 2021: Senate Bill 99 requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and implement a grant program for local governments to develop community energy resilience plans. It also sets forth guiding principles for plan development, including equitable access to reliable energy and integration with other existing local planning documents. Status: SB 99 awaits consideration in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.  RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 207 (Dahle): Photovoltaic Recycling Advisory Group: Senate Bill 207 seeks to spur the recycling and reuse of solar photovoltaic panels by requiring an advisory group to make recommendations to ensure that, to the extent possible, all solar photovoltaic panels in the state are reused or recycled at the end of their lives in a safe and cost-effective manner. Status: SB 207 awaits consideration by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status:  Support

Senate Bill 219 (McGuire): Property Tax Payments: Shelter-in-Place Order. Senate Bill 219 codifies a county tax collector’s ability to cancel late payment penalties for taxpayers who have experienced financial hardship due to shelter-in-place orders. Status: SB 219 secured passage in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 244 (Archuleta): Lithium-ion batteries: illegal disposal: fire prevention: Senate Bill seeks to prevent lithium-ion battery fires by requiring the state to develop training and best practices for the detection, safe handling, and suppression of fires that originate from discarded lithium-ion batteries in solid waste collection vehicles, transfer and processing stations, and disposal facilities.  Status: SB 244 awaits consideration from the Senate Environmental Quality and Natural Resources and Water Committee. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 264 (Min): Firearms: state and county property: Senate Bill 264 prohibits the sale of firearms and firearm components on state or county property, most notably fairgrounds.  Status: SB 264 awaits consideration from the Senate Public Safety Committee.  RCRC Status: Oppose

Senate Bill 286 (Min): County Officer Elections Top-Two Advance. Senate Bill 286 would require the top-two vote-getters seeking election to a county office to face-off in a General Election.  Status: SB 286 awaits consideration in the Senate Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose

Senate Bill 289 (Newman) Recycling: batteries and battery-embedded products.: Requires producers of battery and battery-embedded products to create stewardship organizations and programs for the collection, transportation, and recycling of those products. Status: SB 289 awaits consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.    RCRC Status:  Pending

Senate Bill 533 (Stern) Require electrical corporations to ensure electrical transmission and distribution systems achieve the highest level of safety, reliability, and resiliency by modernizing, upgrading, replacing, hardening, or undergrounding any portion of its transmission and distribution wires or poles that experiences a specified number of recurring deenergization events.  Requires the CPUC to create a database of critical facilities, infrastructure, and circuits located in high fire threat districts. Status: SB 533 awaits consideration from the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 580 (Hueso) Authorizes the state to study the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and environmental benefits of including recycled plastics in asphalt used as a paving material in the construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation of a highway or rad. Status:  SB 580 awaits consideration from the Senate Transportation Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 619 (Laird) Will seek to provide local governments with additional flexibility and funding to achieve the state’s organic waste recycling requirements.  Status: SB 619 awaits consideration from the Senate Rules Committee. RCRC Status: Support